The Weekly of Business Aviation - July 14, 2014

Regulatory/Legislative

The House on July 11 voted 258-160 to approve a bill widely supported by aviation groups to make permanent 50% bonus depreciation of certain capital equipment, including business jets.
But the future of the bill is less clear, with the White House threatening a veto and the Senate favoring a two-year extension....More

FAA is proposing new technical standards for flight simulation training devices (FSTDs) to ensure that the simulators can be used to train for full stall and stick pusher, upset recognition and recovery from bounding landing and takeoff/landing in gusting crosswinds.
The proposed standards, released in the July 10 Federal Register, stem from recent changes to air carrier training requirements, along with recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board and an Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC). ...More

A U.K. government committee investigating the operational safety of offshore helicopter operations has called for regulatory change in light of reviews carried out by the Civil Aviation Authority.
In its report on offshore helicopter safety, published on July 8, the U.K. Parliament’s transport committee called on the government to conduct a full and independent public inquiry on the commercial pressures placed upon helicopter safety in the North Sea operating environment....More

Intelligence

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is expected to release in the upcoming weeks a long-awaited notice of proposed amendment that would permit commercial operators to use single-engine turbine aircraft in instrument meteorological conditions and at night. EASA on July 10 issued a status update of the rulemaking, saying it was finalizing the NPA and that management approval is anticipated this week, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association reports. EASA is expected to provide a 90-day consultation period for the NPA....More

Flights involving small fractional business jets jumped 34.3% in June in the U.S. and Canada, helping lead business aircraft operations overall to a 3% gain, according to business aviation researcher and safety specialist Argus. Small cabin jets in fractional operations made the greatest gain in June, but small cabin jets used for charter marked the only decline in business jet operations in the month. Part 135 operations overall were up 1.4% in June, thanks to a 10.1% jump in large-cabin charters....More

Research/Development

FAA is beginning evaluations of proposals to replace leaded aviation gasoline, in a move that marks the next step toward transitioning to a new unleaded fuel by 2018.
FAA a year ago asked fuel producers to submit proposals by July 1 for possible options to transition to an unleaded fuel. The agency said it received 10 replacement fuel proposals from producers Afton Chemical Company, Avgas LLC, Shell, Swift Fuels and a consortium of BP, TOTAL and Hjelmco....More

Japanese researchers in Kiruna, Sweden, are preparing to restage the drop test of a supersonic transport model from a high-altitude balloon to demonstrate a low sonic boom.
The month-long test period at the Esrange Space Center begins on July 22.
The first test under Phase 2 of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) D-Send program failed on Aug. 16, 2013, when the 7.9-meter (26-ft.) long model veered off course after release from the balloon at 30 km. (98,500 ft.) altitude....More

Airframers/Suppliers

Textron’s second-quarter results, scheduled for release on July 16, are expected to reflect a continued turnaround in deliveries, with new models reaching market, but a continued softening of backlog, says analyst Jefferies....More

Operations

Chinese general aviation operators have ordered more than 120 helicopters as the government there begins to release its apparent grip on low-altitude airspace regulations.
The orders, for a mix of single- and twin-engine Airbus Helicopters, were announced as German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with her counterpart, Premier Li Keqiang, in Beijing on July 7....More

Safety/Training

Business jet accidents have ticked up slightly worldwide in the first half of this year, but business turboprop accidents at the same time were down significantly, according safety specialist Robert E. Breiling Associates.
In the U.S., business jet accidents were up by one to a total of six in 2014. Half of those were fatal, leading to 13 fatalities, Breiling reports. This compares with five total business jet accidents in the first half of 2013, also combining for three fatal accidents that led to nine fatalities....More

Business Aviation Briefs

Business and general aviation parts manufacturer and distributor Global Parts Group is continuing to expand its capabilities with the acquisition of Bethany, Okla.-based Tulakes Aero, which provides manufacturing, engineering and quality inspection services. Global Parts folded the group into a new division named Global Parts Aero Structures. Global Parts CEO Troy Palmer says the acquisition is part of an ongoing effort to add capabilities and expertise, and praised Tulakes’ reputation in sheet metal and composite component repair and overhaul services....More

Boeing’s new Maritime Surveillance Aircraft, based on a Bombardier Challenger business jet, will make its first public appearance at the Farnborough air show, the company says. Since its first flight tests in February, the MSA demonstrator has been in Seattle for the installation of its full sensor and display suite. At Farnborough, the Flir Systems 380HD electro-optical sensor package will be operational and the functioning of other sensors will be simulated for potential customers....More

Offshore helicopter operator Bristow plans to begin revenue operations with its new AgustaWestland AW189 intermediate-heavy helicopters in the coming weeks. The operator – the launch customer for the AW189 – has taken delivery of two aircraft, the first of which arrived at the company’s Norwich, Norfolk base in April. Since then technicians have been training on the aircraft and pilots have been building up hours on the type prior to operations out to gas platforms in the Southern North Sea....More

Axis Jet, an aircraft charter and management company based in Sacramento, California, is expanding its reach to Cheyenne Regional Airport in Wyoming with the addition of a King Air C90GTI. Axis says the aircraft will be able to serve the Wyoming, Nebraska and Colorado markets. The aircraft joins the Axis fleet based in Northern California that includes a Hawker 800XP, Premier I, Citation Mustang, two King Air 350s, two King Air 300s and a King Air C90....More

The FAA is continuing to make progress toward the completion of its En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) deployment, and the final sites are expected to begin operational trials by the end of the current fiscal year on Sept. 30. According to a federal website that monitors large IT projects, the last two en route centers to receive ERAM will be Jacksonville, Florida, and Atlanta. The agency is on track to reach initial operating capability (IOC) at these two sites during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014....More

Appointments

MARK SALZANO was promoted to executive director, government contract training for FlightSafety International. Salzano will manage business and commercial aircraft training that FlightSafety provides to government agencies. He has served with FlightSafety since 2002, beginning as an instructor in the company’s LaGuardia facility in New York. He held positions of increasing responsibility and most recently was director, government contract training....More